A shop manageress was today devastated after a suspicious blaze gutted an off-licence she has treated as an extension of her home for the last 17 years.

Jeanette Tomlinson, manageress of the Victoria Wine in the Jolly Friar parade of shops in Whitmore Way, Basildon, brought up her children in the store.

Distraught - off-licence manageress Jeanette pictured today outside her damaged shop Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

Three fire crews tackled the blaze today, which started in the back of the store at just after 6am and sent grey smoke billowing into the neighbourhood.

Mrs Tomlinson said: "It makes me just want to go back to bed and cry.

"I have even had a knife held to my throat and been threatened with a gun but have still carried on working there because I love the work so much.

"I brought my kids up in the store and had pets when you did not have to worry about health and safety."

Basildon fire station commander Olly Holford said: "We are probably treating the fire as suspicious."

Published Monday, January 27, 2003

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